Sliding gate for metal-holding vessel



Nov. 25, 1969 1. A.-GR'osK.o 3,480,186

A l SL'IDING GATE FOR METAL-HOLDING VESSEL- Filed DeC. 22, 1967 i l se es 22' 25 26 25 22 /N VEN TOI?. JOHN A. @ROSKO Harney United States Patent O 3,480,186 SLIDING GATE FOR METAL-HOLDING VESSEL John A. Grosko, Whitaker Township, Allegheny County,

Pa., assgnor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 692,767 Int. Cl. B67d 3/00; B65d 47/26; F16k 3/02 U.S. Cl. 222-512 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A metal-holding vessel with a bottom outlet has spaced beams secured therebelow, one on each side of the outlet and a closure panel slidably supported on the beams is adapted, in one position, to close said outlet. Expansiblechamber motors are carried by the beams on each side of the panel and constantly urge it toward the bottom of the vessel. Graphite blocks between the motors and the panel facilitate movement of the latter and protect the motors from the heat of the metal. Another motor mounted on the beams actuates the panel to open or close the vessel outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means mounting a closure panel for sliding movement on the bottom of a metalholding vessel having a bottom outlet and, in particular, to the means for urging the panel yfirmly against the vessel bottom so it Will effect a tight closure of th'e outlet.

More specifically, my invention is an improvement on the apparatus .of Shapland Patent No. 3,352,465. That patent shows a sliding closure panel urged against the vessel bottom by compression springs working through levers of the first class. These springs are located relatively close to the stream of hot metal flowing from the vessel when the panel is in .open position and may be adversely affected by the heat therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to my invention, I provide a plurality of expansible chamber motors on each side of the path of the closure panel, disposed and arranged to exert a direct upward force thereon tending to seat the panel firmly against the bottom outlet of the vessel. I further provide graphite bearing blocks between the motors and the panel to facilitate movement of the latter and protect the former from excessive heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my invention separate from the vessel on the bottom of which it is adapted to be mounted;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the plane of line II-II of FIGURE 1, with parts in elevation, :showing partially the bottom of the vessel to which my invention is secured; and

3,480,186 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 FIGURE 3 is a partial cross section taken along the plane of line III-III .of FIGURE 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE "PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, a refractorylined vessel 10 adapted to hold molten metal, such as a ladle or the like, has a bottom outlet defined by a nozzle block 11, controlled by a conventional stopper rod (not shown). A plate 12 is secured by bolts 13 to the bottom of the vessel with a layer of thermal insulating board 14 therebetween. This plate has a central hole therein to accommodate the projecting lower end of nozzle block 11. Angle beams 15 are secured to plate 12, one on ecah side of the nozzle block, by screws 16. A nozzle-block support plate 17 having a central hole adapted to register with that through block 11 is secured to plate 12 by screws 18. Beams 15 are connected by upper cross plates 19 and 20 welded thereto.

A cylinder and piston 21 mounted on plate 19 effect sliding movement of a closure panel 22 along ways 23 on the inner faces of beams 15, from the chain-line tothe solid-line position shown in FIGURE 2. When the panel is in registry with plate 17, it blocks iiow of metal through nozzle block 11. The panel has lateral flanges 24 riding on ways 23.

Lower cross plates 25 extending between beams 15 `support motor-housing blocks 26, one on each side of the path of panel 22. As shown in FIGURE 3 the panel has shoulders or flanges 27 overhanging blocks 26. While made principally of refractory material, the panel is metal clad on its lower surfaces. Blocks 26 are bored to receive a plurality of expansible-chambcr motors 28, such as bellows, and connections 29 extend therefrom to manifolds 30 connected to a suitable source of uid under pressure through a control valve (not shown). Graphite blocks 31 are disposed between motors 28 and shoulders 27, the upper surfaces of blocks 26 being recessed to accommodate them. Blocks 31 have their edges beveled, as shown in FIGURE 2, `so that shoulders 27 will not be obstructed as panel 22 is pushed into place.

It will be evident that motors 28, acting through Iblocks 31, exert a constant upward pressure on panel 22, tending to hold it closely against the plate 17. This pressure -may be increased, if necessary, by opening the control valve and relieved, if excessive, by a conventional safety valve.

When it is desired to permit metal iiow through block 11, a panel 22 having a hole therethrough is placed on loading shelf 32 and motor 21 is operated'to push it into registering position, such action, of course, also effecting removal lof closed panel 22 previously in position. To terminate iiow, panel 22 is replaced in the position shown.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination, with a metal-holding vessel having a bottom outlet and a flow-control panel slidable thereover, of support means for said panel comprising a pair lof spaced parallel beams secured to the bottom of said vessel, ways on the adjacent faces of said beams, said panel having laterally extending anges along its sides slidable on said Ways, a block carried by each of said beams extending along oneside of said panel, and a plurality of expansible-charnber motors spaced along each block adapted to exert pressure urging said panel toward the vessel bottom.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by individual graphite blocks between said motors and said panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,924 10/1953 Wood et al. 222-512 X 2,998,220 8/1961 Grieselhuber 251-175 X 5 3,352,465 11/1967 Shapland 222--512 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, |Primary Examiner U.S. C1e X.R. 

